Read Online Chasing Faete (Beyond the Veil Book 1) by Sarah Marsh, Elena Kincaid, Maia Dylan - Free Book Online Page A
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years now. He’d come from some overly crowded pack up in northern Alberta, and once he’d taken his oath to Gabe, he’d risen through the ranks pretty quickly. As Enforcers, Leo and Ben didn’t have much time for socializing, so they didn’t know him too well, but he liked the guy. He’d proven himself a strong wolf and a competent Beta, and Leo was glad Gabe had the support.
“Corrine had another vision after you left,” Leo said quietly. “She thinks that someone from within is going to betray the pack.”
“Fuck.” Gabe cursed under his breath and ran a hand through his thick, blonde hair. “This couldn’t come at a worse time. We’ve admitted almost a dozen new males into the pack in the last six months. It could be any one of them!”
“I know. We’ll just have to be very tight-lipped from now on about our tactics. I imagine that the false King has gotten our message by now and he can’t be too happy.”
The more Leo thought about Alefric’s message, the more he suspected that a war was exactly what he wanted rather than peace with their pack. From Erica’s recollection of the day her family had been killed, it sounded like the man was dead-set on subjugating all shifters. He wanted more than just Erica and would never declare a truce with the pack, even if they had given her up willingly. Albeit, giving her up would have been over his and Ben’s dead body after they massacred all those who attempted to surrender her in the first place. In the end, and not surprisingly, Alefric would betray them all. Perhaps, Leo considered, they could find a way to use his own deceitfulness and arrogance against him to win this war.
“I can see the wheels turning in your head, friend. Why not go rest with your mate and your brother? You can tell me what ideas you’ve come up with when you get it sorted out. It usually takes you a few hours once you get that look on your face.” Gabe smiled and pushed his own chair back to stand. “I’m going to go and make sure that Corrine is all right. Those visions can take a lot out of her.”
****
Corrine sat in her favorite chair out by the big elm tree in the back of the estate and thought about what she’d seen in her vision that afternoon. Deep down, she’d already had a feeling that none of them would escape this war without great loss, but knowing still didn’t make the thought of bearing that kind of pain any less daunting.
“What are you doing out here all by yourself, Cor? You’ll freeze.” Gabe took his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders and then sat down next to her on the wicker loveseat.
“I won’t freeze any more than you will, wolf,” she said with a sigh, resting her head on his shoulder, “but I appreciate your care.”
“Are you all right? Leo told me that you’d had another vision after I left—a bad one.” Gabe put his arm around her and gathered her close to share his warmth.
“It was bad,” she whispered. “I’m afraid this war with my people will cost us more than we ever thought. You have to promise me, Gabe, that no matter what happens, you must protect Princess Eyrica at all costs. The future of both of our races will be dependent upon her survival.”
“I will, Corrine. I give you my word. I swear it.” Gabe leaned in to kiss the crown of her long, strawberry blonde hair. “We will protect her together, you and I.”
Corrine was glad that Gabe could not see the sad smile that crossed her face at his words. She’d been with this pack for over a decade, and this had truly felt like home to her now. The courageous Alpha meant more to her than she’d ever admitted, even to herself. But she’d taken an oath to protect her Queen and the royal family and that was an oath she’d uphold even if she had to walk into the very depths of hell to do it.
Chapter Thirteen
“Why don’t I draw you a nice hot bath to help you relax?” Ben suggested to Erica as soon as Leo left to seek out Gabe. The Alpha
“Corrine had another vision after you left,” Leo said quietly. “She thinks that someone from within is going to betray the pack.”
“Fuck.” Gabe cursed under his breath and ran a hand through his thick, blonde hair. “This couldn’t come at a worse time. We’ve admitted almost a dozen new males into the pack in the last six months. It could be any one of them!”
“I know. We’ll just have to be very tight-lipped from now on about our tactics. I imagine that the false King has gotten our message by now and he can’t be too happy.”
The more Leo thought about Alefric’s message, the more he suspected that a war was exactly what he wanted rather than peace with their pack. From Erica’s recollection of the day her family had been killed, it sounded like the man was dead-set on subjugating all shifters. He wanted more than just Erica and would never declare a truce with the pack, even if they had given her up willingly. Albeit, giving her up would have been over his and Ben’s dead body after they massacred all those who attempted to surrender her in the first place. In the end, and not surprisingly, Alefric would betray them all. Perhaps, Leo considered, they could find a way to use his own deceitfulness and arrogance against him to win this war.
“I can see the wheels turning in your head, friend. Why not go rest with your mate and your brother? You can tell me what ideas you’ve come up with when you get it sorted out. It usually takes you a few hours once you get that look on your face.” Gabe smiled and pushed his own chair back to stand. “I’m going to go and make sure that Corrine is all right. Those visions can take a lot out of her.”
****
Corrine sat in her favorite chair out by the big elm tree in the back of the estate and thought about what she’d seen in her vision that afternoon. Deep down, she’d already had a feeling that none of them would escape this war without great loss, but knowing still didn’t make the thought of bearing that kind of pain any less daunting.
“What are you doing out here all by yourself, Cor? You’ll freeze.” Gabe took his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders and then sat down next to her on the wicker loveseat.
“I won’t freeze any more than you will, wolf,” she said with a sigh, resting her head on his shoulder, “but I appreciate your care.”
“Are you all right? Leo told me that you’d had another vision after I left—a bad one.” Gabe put his arm around her and gathered her close to share his warmth.
“It was bad,” she whispered. “I’m afraid this war with my people will cost us more than we ever thought. You have to promise me, Gabe, that no matter what happens, you must protect Princess Eyrica at all costs. The future of both of our races will be dependent upon her survival.”
“I will, Corrine. I give you my word. I swear it.” Gabe leaned in to kiss the crown of her long, strawberry blonde hair. “We will protect her together, you and I.”
Corrine was glad that Gabe could not see the sad smile that crossed her face at his words. She’d been with this pack for over a decade, and this had truly felt like home to her now. The courageous Alpha meant more to her than she’d ever admitted, even to herself. But she’d taken an oath to protect her Queen and the royal family and that was an oath she’d uphold even if she had to walk into the very depths of hell to do it.
Chapter Thirteen
“Why don’t I draw you a nice hot bath to help you relax?” Ben suggested to Erica as soon as Leo left to seek out Gabe. The Alpha
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